Appeal for YMCA Ramallah Project(ACTION REQUESTED) From: "Sam Bahour" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
November 9, 2002 Dear Friends, I write to you from Ramallah/Al-Bireh, Palestinian Authority in reference to a special fund raising initiative for building a YMCA Youth and Sports Center in Ramallah. As you are aware, we are facing one, if not the, most challenging periods of our time. While some have turned their back to the development of our community during these troubling times, many others have not. Your sincere interest and support during this difficult period is what inspires me to make this personal appeal. For several months now, I have closely worked with the East Jerusalem YMCA staff member, Mr. Haytham Hammouri and his colleagues to find a way to make this project a reality. During the past two months, Mr. Hammouri accompanied two YMCA of the USA International Group executives to my office in Ramallah to discuss with me the fundraising effort for this project. Witnessing firsthand the senior-level commitment of the international section of the YMCA and the dedication of the local YMCA staff to carry on in strategic humanitarian and community development projects, despite our difficult conditions, has motivated me to help as much as possible and, thus, I appeal to each and every one of you for your support. No other segment of Palestinian society has suffered more than youth. Extreme levels of violence, destitution and destruction have severely impeded educational, recreational and economic opportunities in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. School attendance and non-formal educational opportunities have dropped significantly. The intensity of the current situation breeds anger, frustration and hopelessness. As a result, many young Palestinians often turn to extremist alternatives rather than positive, community-based avenues of change. The urgent need to create positive educational, recreational and economic opportunities is particularly acute in a society where 47% of the population is under the age of 15. The following statistics convey the extent of the youth development challenges in the West Bank and Gaza: * Over 70% of young Palestinians live below or at the poverty line. * Over 70% of the Palestinians killed, wounded or imprisoned since the current Intifada started were between 14 and 30 years of age. * Over 25% of Palestinian youth never finish primary school. * Over 40% of Palestinian youth never finish high school. * 70% of all youth that complete high school and/or vocational training do not have the technical or analytical skills required for the limited jobs currently available in the Palestinian labor market. * Over 80% of Palestinian youth have no access to career information, counseling and planning services. * 80% of women over the age of 15 do not participate in the labor force. * Over 50% of school dropouts between the ages of 15 and 25 are either unemployed or significantly under-employed. * Over 80% of Palestinian youth have little or no access to public or private sports and recreation facilities. The percentage is even lower for girls and disabled youth. * Less than 10% of Palestinian youth are involved in supervised after school activities. The statistics are much worse for girls and disabled youth. * Most schools, youth centers and public infrastructure lack disabled access facilities. * Over 4,000 Palestinian youth have sustained permanent disabilities since the start of the current Intifada. After-school activities do not exist in most areas of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. YMCA research and evaluations studies have found that children who are left unsupervised after school are more likely to engage in high-risk activities that lead to violent behavior, early school dropout, unemployment and dangerous health practices (such as smoking, drinking and drug addiction). Children and teens that participate in supervised after school activities, however, stay in school longer, receive better grades, obtain better jobs, engage in fewer high-risk activities and volunteer more time to community development initiatives. The YMCA Youth and Sports Center in Ramallah will provide vital youth education and recreation services to at least 18,000 youth and families. The facility will include a swimming pool, gymnasium, multi-purpose hall, locker rooms, sports equipment and playground games, such as squash, basketball and tennis. The recreation center will also serve disabled and at-risk youth from communities of all the Ramallah District, especially Ramallah, Betunya and Al- Bireh. The YMCA will also develop special sports, recreation, education and counseling programs for girls and young women in the target communities. Detailed information on the projects, partners, and the track record of the East Jerusalem YMCA may be found at: http://www.ej- ymca.org/sport%20center.htm. Also, a rendering of the facility may be viewed at: http://www.ej-ymca.org/sport%20pic.htm. HOW YOU CAN HELP? The YMCA Ramallah Center is a two-phase project with a total cost of $3,190,600. The first phase is $2.171 million and has already received pledges for a $1.0 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a $300,000 grant from YMCA of the USA. In addition, the Ramallah/Al-Bireh Governorate has made an in-kind donation of the land for the project, estimated at $500,000. A remaining $871,000 still needs to be raised for Phase I of the project. I have undertaken this special humanitarian appeal with the goal of generating $500,000 toward the remaining funds needed. To achieve this I need your help. Personally, I’m confident that in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season you will consider generously donating what you can. In addition, I urge those that are able to engage their community to help as well. Sponsoring living room meetings with community and business leaders, sponsoring a fundraising dinner and organizing a general appeal within your community are all ways that would help raise the funds necessary to make this strategic project a reality. While working with Haytham and the YMCA of the USA staff we discussed several ways that we would be able to acknowledge those that contributed to the project. Some of the possibilities are that name plaques for anyone donating $1,000 or more would be prominently displayed in the lobby area of the Center in addition to a donors list naming all who donated. Also, for large donations we have the ability to dedicate a room, court, pool, or wing of the project depending on the circumstances. Checks should be made out to YMCA Fund Inc. and sent to the following address: Mary Tikalsky International Group YMCA of the USA 101 N. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 USA *** All donations are tax-deductible *** Checks should be accompanied by a cover letter stating that the funds are a donation to the East Jerusalem YMCA for the establishment of the YMCA Youth and Sports Center in Ramallah. Any inquires about the YMCA facilities or youth programs may be directed to either Mr. Jerry Prado-Shaw or Mr. Valentine of the International Group of the YMCA of the USA who have worked extensively with the East Jerusalem YMCA. Thomas Valentine Associate Director, International Group Tel: 1-312 419-8130 Fax: 1-312 977-0884 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or Mr. Jerry Prado-Shaw Director, International Group Tel: 1-312-419-8133 Fax: 1-312-977-0884 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I thank you in advance for your efforts and generosity and I wish you and your family a safe and joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to welcoming you to the new Ramallah YMCA in the near future. Respectfully yours, Sam Bahour Ramallah/Al-Bireh, Palestinian AuthorityEmail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
